Director Maïwenn is setting the record straight about a recent interview that portrayed Johnny Depp in a negative light. The French director stars opposite Depp in their new film Jeanne du Barry and expressed her frustration with London’s Independent for mischaracterizing Depp. Maïwenn clarified that a quote about Depp being scary was meant to describe his charisma and star status, not that the crew was afraid of him as the headline suggested. She called out the journalist by name and admitted that she should have used a different word to describe Depp’s impressive presence on set.
In the upcoming film Jeanne du Barry, Depp plays King Louis XV who falls for a commoner, Jeanne Vaubernier, played by Maïwenn. The controversy arose from a specific quote in the interview where Maïwenn mentioned it was difficult to shoot with Depp, and the crew was scared because of his different sense of humor and uncertainty about his commitment to his role. However, Maïwenn clarified that she respects and admires Depp as a talented actor and likened him to the late Marlon Brando, acknowledging their creative differences on set.
The Independent article also delved into the filmmaker’s creative process with Depp and the personal controversies surrounding both the director and the star. Maïwenn expressed her frustration with the line of questioning during the interview and felt betrayed by the way her words were misrepresented. She highlighted the importance of correcting the narrative and emphasized that despite any disagreements on set, she holds Depp in high regard as a talented actor.
Maïwenn praised Depp’s acting skills and acknowledged his genius, sufferings, generosity, and paradoxes, which reminded her of Brando. Despite their disagreements on set, she emphasized that she respects and admires Depp as one of the greatest actors in the industry. Variety noted that they have attempted to contact the Independent and the journalist for comment on the situation, but there has been no response so far.
The premiere of Jeanne du Barry took place on April 15 in London, with both Maïwenn and Depp in attendance before the film’s release on April 19 overseas. This film marks Depp’s return to the big screen after his last feature film role in the 2020 indie drama Minamata. Jeanne du Barry is set to open in U.S. theaters on May 1, giving audiences a chance to see Depp’s performance as King Louis XV and Maïwenn as his mistress on the big screen.
